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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1994

AT
(202) 616-2771
TDD (202) 514-1888

COLUMBUS, OH -- United States District Judge George C. Smith today granted
defendant General Electric Company's motion for judgement of acquittal
pursuant to Rule 29 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. In doing
so, Smith ruled that there was not enough evidence for the case to proceed
to consideration by the jury. GE had been charged in a one-count indictment
alleging that it conspired with DeBeers Centenary AG to raise list prices
of industrial diamonds in violation of Section One of the Sherman Antitrust
Act. The effect of Smith's ruling is that GE is cleared of that charge.

In response to Smith's ruling, Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney
General in charge of the Antitrust Division, said, "The decision to
bring this case was the result of an extensive two year investigation
and careful review within the Department of Justice. Nonetheless, the
decision on a Rule 29 motion properly rests in the hands of our court
system, and we respect and accept that decision in this case."